Stereo cabinetry with modest record storage

[hertzdonut]

My wife suggested bringing my stereo gear downstairs, in the living room we had redone, but I was concerned about the cats causing trouble. I told her cabinetry would be the best solution. I started designing the cabinetry, but that (and lack of time) eventually led me to tearing apart and rebuilding an existing pair of inexpensive tall pine cabinets. So this project was done on the relatively cheap...I think the coolest thing was finding the bins for my albums. (Wayfair, of all places)

A couple of details: based on the overall size, it has to be able to come apart if/when it needs to be moved. To facilitate that, the top molding is actually a cap. Molding was applied to 3/4" ply and it drops on like a hat. A couple of screws keeps it in place. The baseboard molding is a three-piece affair, with metal angle brackets routed into the inside corners. Applied to the bottom of that molding is weatherstripping foam, which provides the support to keep it off the floor when I need to swing the cabinetry out to access behind. The cabinetry sits on eight heavy-duty casters. Lastly, the two cabinets are screwed through an interior side to each other.

It won't ever make Fine Woodworking, but that wasn't my intent.

In addition to the rebuild, I added sensors to light up the interior when the doors are opened. I also integrated a Sonos Connect (2nd gen) and can broadcast whatever's playing out to my family room, deck or porch.

And I am happy it is now downstairs, makes it much more convenient and it gets more use!

- Jeff

 

[squirrelnest]

Nice setup, like the lights in the cabinets and the record storage access. Plus the video is great!

 

[hertzdonut]

Nice setup, like the lights in the cabinets and the record storage access. Plus the video is great!

Thanks, squirrelnest, nice of you to say!

 

[bhunter]

That's nice. It will also likely help with dust.

 

[hertzdonut]

That's nice. It will also likely help with dust.

Good point, bhunter! And it certainly keeps everything safe from curious cats. Well, mostly, anyway.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Looks nice! I have my gear in a built-in. My Well Tempered Classic plays absolutely perfect in it. My Thorens TD166MKII does not, it picks up low frequency acoustical feedback even with the record stopped. I had to the set the Thorens on a layer of egg crate. Glad your cabinet is working for you!

 

[hertzdonut]

Looks nice! I have my gear in a built-in. My Well Tempered Classic plays absolutely perfect in it. My Thorens TD166MKII does not, it picks up low frequency acoustical feedback even with the record stopped. I had to the set the Thorens on a layer of egg crate. Glad your cabinet is working for you!

Thanks, Coolhandjjl! Built-ins would be a great set up. Interesting, though, a different experience between your two turntables. Glad you found a solution!

 

[j!m]

That's a nice set up!

I think even MY wife would approve of that!

 

[Doghouse]

Well impressed.
It's rare to see contemporary furniture that lends itself to housing vintage audio equipment. From what I've seen in the UK, many wall units are designed for the smaller rooms now being built in apartments and have no depth.

Your use shows imaginative thinking.

As a "mid century modernist," we've had this big Danish teak veneered wall unit since the early seventies.

The cabinet with the double doors was specifically designed to house a TV.



But I adapted it with an additional shelf to house what is now my vintage kit.
The two double cupboards above are plenty deep enough to store albums.



I've not seen anything here in the UK at an affordable price, that could do a similar job.

 

[70's Rockfan]

That came out real nice.
I like Pioneer RG.. still using mine too.

 

[pauldrewry]

Beautiful!

 

[hertzdonut]

That's a nice set up!
I think even MY wife would approve of that!

Lol, that was the acid test for me! And thanks for the kind words, J!m!

Well impressed.
It's rare to see contemporary furniture that lends itself to housing vintage audio equipment. From what I've seen in the UK, many wall units are designed for the smaller rooms now being built in apartments and have no depth.
Your use shows imaginative thinking.
As a "mid century modernist," we've had this big Danish teak veneered wall unit since the early seventies.
The cabinet with the double doors was specifically designed to house a TV.
But I adapted it with an additional shelf to house what is now my vintage kit.
The two double cupboards above are plenty deep enough to store albums.
I've not seen anything here in the UK at an affordable price, that could do a similar job.

Nicely done, Doghouse! It looks like a great fit to your space! Regarding new furniture, not finding anything suitable was exactly what we ran into as well. I must've searched a thousand pages, I swear. And when I designed what I needed, my wife suggested the rebuild to save time and money. She won.

That came out real nice.
I like Pioneer RG.. still using mine too.

Thanks, 70's Rockfan! I do like my RG-2. I used to have the RG-9500 Equalizer tied into the system as well, but just felt it was overkill. The RG is a keeper!

 

[hertzdonut]

Beautiful!

Thanks so much! And as long as the cats stay off the speaker, I'm good.

 

[gregj]

Very nice. The indirect lighting and white cabinet interiors give it a great finished look.

Where did you source the actual cabinets? Did they come with frosted glass, interior lighting and pull-out shelves? Or did you add those features?

I just reread your OP. Nice work modifying existing cabinets. Were they originally white in the inside?

 

[BSome]

Not fine woodworking? Turned out great and job well done, Did you add the slide out at the bottom

 

[Spitfirejoe]

Jeepers, that's neat! That frosted glass is like negligee... hides things enough that it makes you want to see more.

 

[hertzdonut]

Very nice. The indirect lighting and white cabinet interiors give it a great finished look.

Where did you source the actual cabinets? Did they come with frosted glass, interior lighting and pull-out shelves? Or did you add those features?

I just reread your OP. Nice work modifying existing cabinets. Were they originally white in the inside?

Thanks for the kind words! I started with bare bones, unfinished carcasses. Once they were torn apart, I was left with two sides and a floor for each to build from. Early stage photo

 

[hertzdonut]

Not fine woodworking? Turned out great and job well done, Did you add the slide out at the bottom

Thanks, BSome, I appreciate that! I did add the slide out shelf at the bottom. There’s three drawer slides, mounted horizontally, supporting the shelf, baskets and albums. I tore out two flimsy drawers to make the available space

 

[hertzdonut]

Jeepers, that's neat! That frosted glass is like negligee... hides things enough that it makes you want to see more.

Thanks Spitfirejoe! I like the way you put that! Hadn’t thought of it that way, but now you mention it…!

 

[Bob in WI]

That sure turned out.
The frosted doors are a good look.
I'm adding led lighting to my cabinet now.
Its necessary especially if you want to turn the ambient lighting down when you listen.
Congrats a quality build.